Fairbanks, Dimond and Chugiak all have multiple players hitting above .400 in American Legion baseball this season, and when the state tournament begins today at Mulcahy Stadium, those three heavy-hitting teams will be among the top seeds.
Fairbanks (18-2) is the top seed and outfielder Curtis Wolfe is its most dangerous hitter. Wolfe is hitting .420 with an .840 slugging percentage, five home runs and 35 RBIs. Teammates Willie Clark and Alex Whittaker, while not quite the sluggers, both hold batting averages above .400.
Cory Clevenger is the top hitter for second-seeded Dimond (16-4). He has 17 extra-base hits and a .482 average. Sheldon Rouzan is hitting .427 with 11 doubles and Colton Lauwers is hitting .429 with 10 doubles. Rouzan and Lauwers also own 4-1 pitching records.
Garrett Balen powers the middle of the lineup for fourth-seeded Chugiak (12-8), the 2008 champions. Balen is hitting .487 with a .921 slugging percentage and four home runs.
Defending champion South (12-8) is seeded third and Eric Berglund (.490) is its top hitter. Infielder Cal McKim carries a .395 average and hasn't struck out once in 105 plate appearances.
• Also in the tournament are Wasilla, Kenai, Service, East, West, Bartlett and Eagle River.
The 11-team, double-elimination tournament runs for eight days at Mulcahy. A champion will be crowned a week from today in either the 2 p.m. championship game or a 6 p.m. if-necessary game.
Anchorage Daily News
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